UK-based tech company Chelsea Apps Factory is to open a technology development centre in Belfast, with the hope of stimulating the growth of a Northern Irish technology hub.

The firm, which specialises in helping businesses mobilise their workforce through the power of technology, will open the centre in early 2015 in a central Belfast location, recruiting a development team of 33 mobile specialists from the local area.

Currently, the company employs 70 people across its London and Edinburgh offices, and is looking to double its size over the next year and a half.

“We passionately believe that the UK has some of the worlds finest technology talent, with the skills and capabilities required to serve British businesses,” said Mike Anderson, CEO and founder of Chelsea Apps Factory. “As an expanding business, we want to invest in communities that will help us deliver real quality to our customers.

“The availability of some of the UKs finest IT graduates, along with the support from Invest Northern Ireland, made Belfast the primary choice for our new base. At Chelsea Apps Factory, we pride ourselves on nurturing and training talented people, helping them succeed in our growing business.”